Umenoya Ryokan

The couple running the place were so kind, and we felt able to unwind during our brief stop between Mt. Fuji and Higashiizu. The room also felt secure, with a sturdy entrance door, and the bath was warm with a jetted shower. Thanks for a lovely stay.

It's a pretty ordinary inn, probably suited to anyone looking for a Japanese-style room. The rooftop gives you a view of Mt. Fuji on clear days. Towels and toothbrushes are free, and the shared bath can be used privately when it's your turn, though having to wait until nobody else is in there can be annoying depending on timing and luck. The room itself doesn't smell bad, but smoke from the first-floor smoking area drifts into the second-floor hallway, so keep that in mind if you're sensitive to it. There are no in-room toilets or fridges, and the shared ones are what you have to use. Pick up water at a nearby convenience store. There's unlimited ice. It's farther from the station than you'd expect. Watch out for irrigation channels if you're walking around at night, since a fall could hurt you. Seems fine for a quiet night or two.

The breakfast made a nice finish to our stay, with grilled fish and lots of side dishes. The lodging itself is old and not especially clean, but it's perfectly acceptable if you're after an inexpensive place around Gotemba. 🙆‍♀️

After taking payment for our stay, the owner acted rudely and disrespectfully. He didn't even respond to me. I won't stay here again. He came across as a very rude person.